chapter 10

Dakina’s POV

I do not know when I let out a loud, shrill but guttural. And animalistic screams, “Please…!”

His hand stops in the air, just a few inches from my face. And then he stops.

He stops.

He freezes. He blinks his eyes very rapidly as if he has just been woken up from a terrible dream. I see the way disbelief clouds his face. I see the way he shrinks back slightly. I see the way he looks at his hand as if it betrayed him.

“I…” he mutters. “What has come over…?”

I am still screaming, backing away as I crawl backwards, my body is shaking violently like I am having a seizure, I can barely sit up. Tears pour down my face. I am tired of this life

He turns. Walk to the door. Grabs the handle.

And then he throws it open.

“Get out,” he rasps simply, turning to look at me- his eyes gradually turning back to normal, his claws and fangs retracting .

I stare at him. “No… no, what are you trying to do?”

“I said get out!”

When he sees that I would not leave, he takes a few steps towards me, grabs my hand firmly and pulls me toward the door. I struggle, but what am I thinking, he’s stronger. Before I can say Jack Robinson, he throws me outside, the door slamming behind me.

Darkness swallows me, it is now that I realise that it is night already. I feel so exposed, like a trapped animal caught in a hunter's bright headlamp. Anybody can see me here and take me to the king. The doctor is not here to save me or make sure that the guards leave their posts. Guards are everywhere. If I make a wrong turn, I would be smoked meat. I am so scared

I scramble to my feet hurriedly and pound on the door, gasping, crying- maybe he would show me empathy. “Alfonso! Alfonso, open the door… I didn’t mean it…I didn’t mean to go that far! I’m sorry!”

But the door doesn’t open. I am doomed

“Please! Please!” I beg. “They will take me to Lucan, please. I don’t want to be with him,” I cry hard

Still silence. It feels like he has vanished from the room and I am just screaming to an empty space behind the door

I look around.

The corridor is barely lit, but enough for anyone to spot me. When I think of all the things that Lucan had said he would do to me, when I think of the possible revenge I can get with Alpha Alonso, I slam my fist harder.

“Alpha Alfonso! Open the door! Don’t leave me out here, please!”

And then…

Footsteps.

The devil is sure eating popcorn and giggling at this drama of mine. Because I am about to roast and join the devil in hell

The footsteps are coming closer. They are slow, measured, deliberate

I freeze.

No. No, not now. Please, Moon Goddess, save me. I promise to mind the way I talk to Alpha Alfonso from now on. I promise to control my temper and my tongue

The footsteps get closer. I back against the door, shaking uncontrollably. I Suddenly have an urge to hide, I look around frantically, but I cannot find any reasonable place to hide. I just have some beg Alfonso to take me back in

“Alfonso… please! I am begging! Someone’s coming!” I scream. My nails are chipping painfully away as I try to dig into the door“They’ll kill me!”

Still, no answer. His heart has turn to stone

The steps stop.

Right in front of me.

And I see her.

The silhouette becomes clearer, her huge belly is what I see first as the jingle as she works- her belly is notoriously known for arriving before her, sobit is no surprise to me when the humongous mass of flesh arrives first. As she comes closer, I see as the torchlight shines brightly on her face

It’s not one of the guards.

It’s her.

Lucan’s mother, Elaina

She is unusually talk and frightening

Her eyes fall on me like a predator. In her eyes, I see some sickening amusement

I can’t breathe. This woman has never loved. As a matter of fact. I can describe her feelings for me as hate. This is where I die! Moon Goddess, you have failed one of your own

My knees wobble and before I can hold myself, I collapse to the floor, whimpering in fear. This cannot be happening

“Dakina?” She says smoothly, bending her head to take a proper look at me before she reaches out to touch me. I curl back in disgust. This wicked witch is not even mourning the death of her late husband. I am sure she put Lucan up to kill my father. I wonder if uncle Sam and my dad knew that they married an epitome of wickedness. “What an… unexpected pleasure. Actually not totally unexpected,” she chuckles like an overly stimulated excited child. “The dark witch said I would find you here.

He looks up at the door. Smirks. “Alfonso finally ran out of patience, did he?”

“Please,” I croak, unable to move. “Please don’t hurt me.”

She kneels beside me, ear. “Hurt you?” She laughs softly. “Oh, no. That’s not my style. I prefer… persuasion. Me and my son are only asking you to bear children for us, that is all. Or do you not want your father’s name to continue?.”

I try to crawl back, but I’m too weak. She sprays something on my face and my head is getting lighter and lighter. I don’t know what she has done to me. What does she mean by witch? I know, she has always wanted to indulge in witchery, But dad had always stopped her. Now that he is gone, she has dipped her hand in dark magic?

Elaina tuts. “Look at you. Follow me back to my son, we need you…” she blows a yellow powder in my face as she speaks

I’m fading. Darkness covers me, creeping in like a damn insect

And then, finally, everything goes black